By Elizabeth Nolan, Gulf Islands Drifwood April 1, 2015
The last batch of Green FM staff and volunteer programmers has terminated its relationship with the local radio station, citing financial turmoil that has dogged operations ever since a change in ownership was announced two years ago.
Four paid programmers and a raft of volunteers hosts named March 31 as their official last day, although many had broadcast their final shows sometime earlier in the week. Station manager Radha Fournier put in her final shift at CFSI (Green FM) on Sunday, March 22.
While programmers say the station’s financial difficulties and owner Dave Dhillon’s absenteeism have made work difficult, the final straw was notice of a second CRTC licensing hearing on May 13, in which Dhillon must address a number of possible infractions to broadcasting regulations.
The CRTC hearing will consider whether Salt Spring Radio Corp.’s licence will be renewed after it expires on Aug. 31, 2015 and, if so, whether for a temporary basis. The body granted a previous one-year extension following a non-compliance hearing held in January 2014.
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Courtesy the Northwest Broadcasters ‘recent news’ page is this further detail.
The CRTC is holding a second hearing May 13, in which owner Dave Dhillon must address a number of possible infractions to broadcasting regulations. The Commission granted a previous one-year license extension following a non-compliance hearing held in January 2014. Dhillon said he has hired Anita Mehta as the new station manager and is looking at applications for sales manager. He feels the main problem facing the station is the island’s terrain, which negatively impacts the radio signal and hopes to solve it by switching to an AM translator.
Who in their right mind would have thought that this station would ever be a success. If you have a bag of money and are looking for a hobby, fine. But as a business? C’mon, really?
Was it a commercial radio station disguised as a community station from the get go ?
If so, no wonder it failed !
Real community radio stations are owned and operated by a not for profit society, and are not businesses.
This station was a cheap imitator from the get go and the public was not fooled.
My advice to Salt Spring Islanders still serious about community radio is start a not for profit group, and make damn sure that your board is made up of people who LIVE in Salt Spring, and not from outside the area.
Also, the current station owner overbudgeted. There was no budget for paid staff until your revenue streams kicked in.
The new operation must be run by volunteers, first. If the community cannot volunteer, then, yes, get the hell out and go to a part of the province where people do give a damn ?